Small Council: What’s your favorite piece of Game of Thrones merchandise?

Like any massively popular piece of pop culture, Game of Thrones has produced its fair share of ancillary products. From authors who write books analyzing the historical basis for the series to body pillows shaped like members of the Night’s Watch, there’s an item for every occasion.

Which are our favorites? Which would we like to receive for Christmas? Which would we like to give someone else? Are there any we just think are funny? It’s all fair game on this week’s edition of the Small Council.

RAZOR: I’ve already written in-depth on my favorite Game of Thrones merchandise, but it can’t hurt to reprise that article…because, well…it’s just that awesome (the merch, that is). To use my own words, in partnership with HBO, the legendary creator of Spawn has created several construction sets featuring iconic Game of Thrones locations and scenes that even casual fans will recognize.

For now, there are three sets available, which will feature construction sets, expansion packs, and figure blind bags:

• Construction Sets: MSRP $14.99-49.99 – Depicting the most outstanding moments from your Game of Thrones, including the Iron Throne Room, Mother of Dragons and Attack on the Wall, each set includes scene specific characters, stunning details and realistic accessories.

• Construction Figure Packs: MSRP $9.99 – Starter packs featuring Houses Stark and Lannister with your favorite house armies, complete with house banner and sigil.

• Construction Set Figures: MSRP $3.99 – Twelve buildable blind bag figures inspired by characters from Game of Thrones. Each 2-inch scale figure includes an environment base, and humans include articulated body parts.

• Series 1: #1 Tyrion Lannister; #2 Jon Snow ; #3 Daenerys Targaryen; #4 Grey Worm; #5 Ghost; #6 Rhaegal; #7 Unsullied; #8 Crow; #9 Kingsguard; #10 Wildling (w/ Axe); #11 Wildling (w/ Spear) and #12 Wight.

So if you are wondering what to get that special Game of Thrones fan on your Christmas/Holiday list, or if you’re just looking to treat yourself, then I highly suggest taking a look at the McFarlane Game of Thrones construction sets, as I can personally attest that you and they will not be disappointed.

RICHARD: Man, as a former maniac model-builder, I can hardly get past Razor’s offering! I’ll nominate the HBO Game of Thrones Monopoly board game ($59.99) as my big Game of Thrones wish for Christmas, because I love the themed Monopoly games and it simply looks awesome:

“Vie to hold dominion over the realms of men in the Game of Thrones Collector’s Edition of MONOPOLY. Featuring infamous locations from the original dramatic television series, including Castle Black, Winterfell and King’s Landing, players will buy, sell and trade their way to sit atop the Iron Throne. Collectible tokens include: Dragon Egg, Three-Eyed Raven, White Walker, Direwolf, Crown and The Iron Throne. Custom Villages and Keeps replace traditional Houses and Hotels.”

Also the Inside Editions Game of Thrones Astrolabe Collector’s Edition Book Set looks spectacular. As a gift you’d have to find $500.00 plus tax lying around …

DAN: I’m going to have to go with the Night’s Watch body pillow from Now TV, mainly because it’s creepy. In a comfy way.

Okay, here’s the story: there are certain kinds of pillows out there there are roughly shaped like a bisected human torso, as for example this one:

Snuggle up.

These pillows simulate the sensation of having someone drape their arm over you. However, because fluff is softer than human tissue, they’re easier on the neck, and the chances that the pillow will complain of discomfort are very low. Now TV, an internet television service available in Britain, got the bright idea to construct a few of these pillows and dress them up like a member of the Night’s Watch, complete with buckles and gloves and fur and everything. The idea was that Game of Thrones fans could use the pillows while watching their favorite show. Quoth actress and Night’s Watch body pillow spokesperson Lucy Watson: “It’s so annoying when people talk through my favorite shows, but the Night’s Watch Boyfriend Pillow is the perfect solution – a snuggle partner that can’t talk!”

The odds of actually securing one of these items is pretty low—Now TV didn’t sell them, but rather gave them away in a contest it ran back in March. That’s okay with me—if this thing were in my house, nightmares about it coming alive and exacting revenge on all those who had wronged it would give me some sleepless nights. Still, I feel like the ingenuity should be recognized, as long as I don’t have to do it in person.

KATIE: I’m a sucker for those Funko Pop! figures, although I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to scour store after store to find a dozen Long Duck Dong’s from Sixteen Candles and still no Sansa. My fruitless search went on so long that my dear friend Sarah in the UK picked one up to mail to me, and then—lo and behold—I find Sansa in a Barnes & Noble last week (Sarah, if you’re reading, I didn’t buy her!). But I digress. The Pop! dolls are so adorable you forget that most of the Game of Thrones characters they portray are dead, and the attention to detail is no joke.

The Funko blind boxes are a lot of fun, too, and I’ve read up on some pretty impressive techniques that help to ascertain which figurine is in a box before you buy it. Too bad I couldn’t master any of them, and ended up returning five Jon Snows—that man truly never dies, apparently. But if you want a relatively cheap thrill, I suggest picking up a couple boxes to rip open with the manic glee of a kid on Christmas morning.

ANI: I love everything Etsy. If someone went to the trouble of making it by hand, then I want to consider buying it. There’s tons of Game of Thrones-themed stuff to be found on Etsy too, from tee-shirts to props to full on costumes. Some recommendations:

• BijouxMalou does some amazeballs Game of Thrones inspired jewelry, from House Sigil and Heart tree pendants, miniature maps of Westeros, and replicas of Dany’s dragon claw necklace and Sansa’s ring. Highlight: A replica of Olenna Tyrell’s metal rose belt.
• Why get a simple sweater shirt with catchphrases silkscreened on, when you can get an actual armored hoodie? Made by Geekie Fashion Award finalist iamknight, these modern day armor pullovers are simply stunning, as well as comfortable, which is not something you can say for most period costumes.
• The Westeros shop has the more unusual snarky items that are fully Game of Thrones-themed. From a Cerseilious hat to Stark Lives Matter buttons to wildfire in a jar, this is the shop for the hardcore fan.
• The cosplay shop twowhitewolves specializes in Game of Thrones outfits to order. If you’re thinking about making a present of an outfit for 2016 SDCC, you can’t go wrong here.
• Speaking of Cosplay, yes there are Game of Thrones Fairy Wings, from Faerieworks. They are awesome.
• And finally shoes. I am a shoe lover (Fluevog 4eva.) My current obsession: Zombie Peepshow, which currently have in stock Game of Thrones-themed Metallic Dragon Spiked Heels. Or you can go from zero to conqueror and head over to NixxiRose and step into The Iron Shoes. They’re not comfortable, but like the Thrones they’re based on, they’re not supposed to be.

DAN: I’m chiming back in here to mention a few other Game of Thrones-themed items that probably deserve mention, especially if you need suggestions for last-minute Christmas gifts.

• The Noble Houses of Westeros is a lovely book put out by Running Press that features profiles of the characters on the show, summaries of their histories, and lots of beautiful, full-color photographs from the show, both in front of and behind the scenes.

• While on the topic of books, you can’t go wrong with Carolyne Larrington’s Winter is Coming: The Medieval World of Game of Thrones, a book that looks at the events of the show from the perspective of a medieval historian.

• Funko Pop! isn’t the only company that makes Game of Thrones figurines. Dark Horse has had a wide array of figures available for awhile now, including Brienne and Hound in the header image. This Night’s King bust is coming in April 2016.

• Threezero has a limited line of very realistic Game of Thrones figures, including a new one of Jaime Lannister (it comes with an extra pair of hands).

• How can you go wrong with a Game of Thrones coloring book? That question is rhetorical, but this item is pretty neat.

• The A Song of Ice and Fire calendar for 2016, featuring some pretty cool renderings of scenes from the books. The below image is for January. Because winter.

• And of course, we can’t forget Brewery Ommegang’s line of Game of Thrones-themed beers, including the Iron Throne Blonde Ale, the Take the Black Stout, the Fire and Blood Red Ale, Valar Morghulis, the Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison, and the new Seven Kingdoms Poppy Wheat Ale.

And there are more items of merchandise out there. When a show is as popular as Game of Thrones, supply will find a way to keep up with demand.

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